Charlie Wilson

Artist Image: Charlie Wilson
Attribution
Image Credit: RaymondBoyd51 (Own work), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

"Charles Kent "Charlie" Wilson", also known as Uncle Charlie, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, producer and the former lead vocalist for The Gap Band. As a solo artist he has been nominated for eleven Grammy awards and six NAACP Image Awards (including one win), received a 2009 Soul Train Icon Award, and was a recipient of a BMI Icon Award in 2005. In 2009, he was named Billboard magazine's No. 1 Adult R&B Artist. Charlie Wilson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on January 29, 1953; he was the son of the Rev. Oscar Wilson, a minister in the Church of God in Christ. With his older brother Ronnie and younger brother Robert, Wilson often sang in church before their father’s Sunday sermons, accompanied on piano by their mother. He also sang in his junior high school's choir, which was a precursor to his musical career with The Gap Band and later his solo career. From the start of his career, Charlie and his brothers, Robert and Ronnie, helped define and popularize an upbeat form of funk music that was infectious and lasting with their group The Gap Band. The group's songs such as “Outstanding”, "Party Train", "Yearning for Your Love", "Burn Rubber on Me", “You Dropped a Bomb on Me”, and “Oops Upside Your Head” are among their immense catalog and some of the most sampled songs in music history. After 15 albums The Gap Band announced their retirement in 2010.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed
Number of Albums 21
Record Label
Website https://www.charliewilsonmusic.com
Wikipedia Charlie Wilson on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

R & B Soul

Trivia

At what age did Charlie start taking singing lessons?

three

...At the tender age of three , little Charlie started taking singing lessons. He often accompanied his brothers who sang in the church before their fathe...
Charlie's singing experience led him to join what choir team?

junior high school

... was his experience of singing in church that led him to join his junior high school choir team. Following his elementary studies, Wilson attended Boo...
What school did Wilson attend?

Booker T. Washington High School

...ir team. Following his elementary studies, Wilson attended Booker T. Washington High School . He later enrolled at Langston University where he went on...
Where did Wilson go to college?

Langston University

...n attended Booker T. Washington High School. He later enrolled at Langston University where he went on to become a drum major in the Langston Universi...
Who was Wilson a part of?

GAP (later Gap) Band

...on an offbeat mode. The band was eventually known by its acronym GAP (later Gap) Band . Right from the beginning, along with his brothers, Charlie Wils...
What was the name of the band that was later known as the Gap Band?

GAP

... started on an offbeat mode. The band was eventually known by its acronym GAP (later Gap) Band. Right from the beginning, along with his brothers, Cha...
When did Charlie Wilson take over the role of the lead vocalist for the band?

1973

... was when Wilson took over the role of the lead vocalist for the band in 1973 that its fortunes turned. It was spotted by the revolutionary country ro...
Who spotted the band's fortunes?

Leon Russell

...e band in 1973 that its fortunes turned. It was spotted by the revolutionary country rock singer Leon Russell who roped in Gap as his backup ensemble....
What year was Charles Kent Wilson born?

1953

...Born Charles Kent Wilson on January 29, 1953 , in Tulsa, OK; son of the Rev. Oscar Wilson (a Pentecostal minister) and Irma Wilson; married, wife's nam...
What was the name of Charlie Wilson's 2000 album?

Bridging the Gap

...cation: Attended high school in Tulsa. With his 2000 album release Bridging the Gap , Charlie Wilson became one of the few leading figures of 1980s R&B...
When was Charlie Wilson born in Tulsa, OK?

January 29, 1953

...Born Charles Kent Wilson on January 29, 1953 , in Tulsa, OK; son of the Rev. Oscar Wilson (a Pentecostal minister) and Irma Wilson; married, wife's nam...
What was Charlie Wilson's trio of performing brothers called?

the Gap Band

...vocalist of the trio of performing brothers that went by the name of the Gap Band , Wilson had propelled the group to a consistent string of major hits...
When did Charlie Wilson be born?

Tulsa, OK

...Born Charles Kent Wilson on January 29, 1953, in Tulsa, OK ; son of the Rev. Oscar Wilson (a Pentecostal minister) and Irma Wilson; married, wife's nam...
Who was Wilson's older brother?

Ronnie

... on January 29, 1953; he was the son of the Rev. With his older brother Ronnie and younger brother Robert, Wilson often sang in church before their fa...
What song did Wilson sing in the fourth grade?

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

... In the fourth grade, he sang Tony Bennetts signature song I Left My Heart in San Francisco to an auditorium of his elementary school peers. When he c...
Whos signature song was I Left My Heart?

Tony Bennetts

...urch before his fathers Sunday sermons. In the fourth grade, he sang Tony Bennetts signature song I Left My Heart in San Francisco to an auditorium of...
When did Wilson form the Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Street Band?

1967

...recovering from the initial scare he realized he liked the attention. In 1967 Wilson, along with his brothers Ronnie and Robert, formed the Greenwood,...
What were the names of Wilson's brothers?

Ronnie and Robert

...ed he liked the attention. In 1967 Wilson, along with his brothers Ronnie and Robert , formed the Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Street Band, named for pr...
What was the name of the band named for prominent streets in Tulsas Black Wall Street area?

Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Street Band

..., along with his brothers Ronnie and Robert, formed the Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Street Band , named for prominent streets in Tulsas Black Wall Stre...
When did Wilson find himself homeless and using drugs?

Once the success of the GAP band waned

...ea. The bands name was later shortened to the GAP Band. Once the success of the GAP band waned , Wilson found himself homeless and using drugs from 199...
What nickname did Snoop Dogg give Wilson?

Uncle Charlie

...se friend, Snoop Dogg (Calvin Broadus Jr.), gave Wilson the nickname Uncle Charlie . On May 11, 2002, Wilson was presented an Honorary Master of Fine A...
What is Wilsons first Top 10 hit?

Beautiful

... for Higher Education. In 2003, Wilsons first Top 10 solo hit entitled Beautiful , a collaboration with Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams, was released....
What year did Wilson perform at the Arie Crown Theater?

2010

...o navigation Jump to search Wilson performs at the Arie Crown Theater in 2010 Background information Birth name Charles Kent Wilson Also known as Uncl...
What was Wilson's birth name?

Charles Kent Wilson

... the Arie Crown Theater in 2010 Background information Birth name Charles Kent Wilson Also known as Uncle Charlie Born January 29, 1953 (age 69) Tulsa...
How old was Wilson at the time of his birth?

69

...harles Kent Wilson Also known as Uncle Charlie Born January 29, 1953 (age 69 ) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. In 2009 and 2020, he was named Billboard magazine'...
In what year was Wilson named Billboard magazine's top performer?

2009

...as Uncle Charlie Born January 29, 1953 (age 69) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. In 2009 and 2020, he was named Billboard magazine's No. 1 Adult R&B Artist, and ...
Who was Charlie Wilson's father?

Reverend Oscar Wilson

...n in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on January 29, 1953; he was the son of the Reverend Oscar Wilson , a minister in the Church of God in Christ. With his older brot...
Where did he attend high school?

Booker T. Washington

...e Gap Band and later his solo career. He attended high school at Booker T. Washington . He attended Langston University and would go on to become drum ...
What was the name of The Gap Band's 1974 debut album?

Magicians Holiday

...on to become drum major in the Langston University Marching Pride. Magicians Holiday was the debut album by The Gap Band in 1974 on Shelter Records fo...
Where was The Church Studio located?

Tulsa, Oklahoma

... on Shelter Records founded by Leon Russell and Denny Cordell. The band recorded at The Church Studio, a historic recording studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma ....
What historic recording studio is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma?

The Church Studio

... on Shelter Records founded by Leon Russell and Denny Cordell. The band recorded at The Church Studio , a historic recording studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma....
What is Wilson's latest happy project?

Forever Valentine

... off the new decade with his latest happy project, his new single: Forever Valentine (P Music GroupBMG) is currently Top 7 on Billboards Adult R&B Son...
Forever Valentine is currently Top 7 on what Billboard chart?

Adult R&B Songs chart

...er Valentine (P Music GroupBMG) is currently Top 7 on Billboards Adult R&B Songs chart . The song had the highest chart debut and scored into the Top 1...
How long did it take for the song to score into the Top 10?

3 weeks

... song had the highest chart debut and scored into the Top 10 after only 3 weeks , two milestones that havent happened on that respective chart since 20...
Who co-produced the romantic romp?

Bruno Mars

...ened on that respective chart since 2018. Cowritten and coproduced by Bruno Mars , the exuberant romantic romp finds Wilson extolling the virtues of ye...